Sincerely Yours,

Chapter Forty

"You may now kiss your brides." Pierre said as both Jesse and Shades turned to their brides, Carolyn and Charlotte, as Jesse and Carolyn shared a passionate kiss while Shades and Charlotte have a shy but sweet one.

Blanche, Mia, Victoria, Clarisse, Joe, and some staff members stood up to clap as the two couples turned to them with smiles.

Clarisse noticed Blanche sitting beside a garden maid named Laura and noticed their attraction with each other.

A lot of things happened for sure… she thought as she felt Joseph's hands touch her.

A single touch makes her cheeks redden and she can't help but feel so foolish but in love.

Everyone head to the small reception arranged by the kitchen staff and Victoria as most people from the staff tried to feel comfortable having the royals with them on the rectangular table.

Luckily, the atmosphere is filled with everything but tension as everyone managed to have casual talks with each other.

Joseph saw how his daugher become so close to staff, especially Lionel. The two sat together having their own conversation on their own space.

On what worries Joseph is that Lionel's very close to his daughter. Too close for two people talking on a table and~

Too close for two people who just met less than a month ago… he thought as he knows what Lionel's doing.

When the boy brushed her hands on the table, Joseph looked to his daughter and saw that she seemed to not mind. In fact she's blushing.

What on earth happened for the past two weeks… he thought as he kept observing the two for the rest of the meal.

Clarisse noted what's happening with Lionel and Victoria as she felt her husband glare at young man.

For weeks, she noticed how Lionel changed since they came back with Victoria, and how much he changed himself whenever Victoria's around.

The question is…. what happened for the past two weeks and the two weeks before that between these two and why are they so close now?

I guess I'll have to ask Vicky for that… she thought as she tried to brush Joseph's glare by having a nice conversation with him.


"Okay, now Joseph. What's with the look on the table?" Clarisse asked as she and Joseph sat on the couch.

The reception party finally finished and the newlyweds left for their destinations.

Shades and Charlotte went to the beach house while Carolyn and Jesse insisted that they have their first night on Jesse's house in Pyrus.

Everyone is still alive in the ballroom while Joseph and Clarisse went to their suite. They just finished having a shower together and now both sitting on the couch in front of the TV channeled on a late night show,

"What look?" Joseph pretended to be oblivious but Clarisse gave him 'the look'.

"Okay… I just have no idea when did Victoria became close to that brat." he said as he looked at her, "You noticed too didn't you?"

Clarisse took her cup of tea and said, "When he have his hands on top of hers? Yes I did. But Joseph you can't just look to him like that without knowing the whole story."

"Well without knowing the whole story, I know Victoria will never let anyone touch her like that and I know what that boy is doing." he said as he looked at her, "I mean- he's touching her hand, Clarisse and it surprises me when she didn't pull back. Normally girls pull back on such physical contact unless they are- oh damn. Do you think he made a move on her while we're away? I mean-"

Clarisse tried to calm him down as she placed her cup down and touched his arms,"Now- now… Joseph. Why don't you drink something? You're awfully over-thinking of things and being so protective of Vicky. She's not a naive girl and she proves us that when we're on Spain-"

"Yes I know- But still. He's touching her hand." he insisted as he took a deep breath, "I won't let him have it on her."

Before Clarisse could speak, someone knocked on the door as she automatically said, "Enter," and Victoria entered the room, still on her summer dress as she looked at the two.

"I don't expect both of you to be up… But well then-uh- can we talk?" she said closing the door as she looked at her parents.

Clarisse smiled at her, looking as if saying 'of course, come here sit beside me' while Joseph's look make her have those shivers on the back.

Probably because of what happened on the reception…. she mused as she sat beside Clarisse.

Letting out a breath she smiled at the two, "So… how's Paris?"

"Victoria.." Joseph looked at her but Clarisse brushed him and smiled.

"Wonderful. Thank you for the reservation, Vicky… It really surprised me but who would not."

"Clarisse…" Joseph groaned as Clarisse looked at him.

"Am I not rightm darling? I mean- I'm thanking her, after all she gave us two lovely and private weeks on Paris. Don't you think it would he rude if I have not thanked her?"

Victoria let a sigh as she saw how her father look at her as she finally said,

"I was just having a good time with Lionel, dad." she admitted then quickly regretted.

I made it sound like were already together, the teenager inwardly groan as she thought, Maybe I should explain things.

"You see- I uh- kinda saw you glare at him, dad. And nothing's happening, if I need to clarify that. It's just that- we talk a lot these day- if I need to remind you that he's just a week older than me- I mean- I'm happy that someone is around my age here, not that I'd mind if nobody is." she sighed as she looked at her father and added, "We're just being friends."

"Victoria- I know what will happen after that 'friends' thingy. I've been there before-" Joseph debated as Victoria groaned.

"Where are you getting that, dad?" she snapped as she stood up, surprising both Clarisse and Joseph as she sighed, "If that's because of him touching my hand then I'll tell you that it's because he's reapplying my concealer."

She rubbed the back of her left hand as she showed them a burn mark, "I was cooking myself some fries two midnights ago because I woke up feeling hungry. Then for some reason some oil splashed on my hands while I'm getting my meal so of course it hurts and he helped me by giving me the concealer. You see- I don't want anyone knowing that I burned myself- I mean… it's just a first-degree burn and it's healing already- so I asked him to reapply it because it's wearing off."

She let out a heavy breath as she looked at the clock, "It's almost midnight… I shouldn't have gone here."

She dared to look at her father who has a softer expression and to her mother who looked so sympathetic as she mumbled, "I'll just come back in the morning. I'm very sorry for snapping. I'm just not in the mood… and I thought- oh nevermind… I'll just go."

She started to walk away as she looked at both of them, "Good night, mom. Good night, dad…"

Joseph stood and walked to her as he kissed her forehead, "If you have something to say, mi cariña, then don't bother to tell us."

Victoria looked at him then to Clarisse who remained seated and smiled, "I'm good. I'm just… not in the mood."

"Okay then…. I apologize for being cold, now goodnight." he said as she nodded at him then to Clarisse.

"I'll see you two tomorrow…. Apology accepted dad.." she sighed as she opened the door, "I'll try to be calmer in the morning."

She smiled and left.


"Hello? Nick? Yes- uh… I've decided~ what? No- no.. I- I can't do that. Yes… well I'm just going to ask you one thing." Mia took a deep breath as she finally asked, "Do you love me?"


"You've kept the secret…. I mean- Victoria.. If they knew-"

"I just told them about the burn.." she said as she leaned to her pillow and gave him a weak smile, "I- can you help me to the bathroom? I feel sick."

"I'm getting worried now, Vicky.. You've been sick yesterday and still tonight. Don't you think you should-"

"No.. I'm fine. It's normal. I've been here before so help me to the damn bathroom because I still have my cramps and I don't want to crawl."

Lionel quickly got up as he helped her walk to the bathroom, "How else can I help you?"

"Get my pouch at the bedside table and the glass of water as well."

"Vicky it's hot water."

"It's warm now give me the damn things or I'll have your head flushed on the toilet." she groaned as she turned green and spat on the sink, "I hate it when I experience these things."

"I never thought women bleed. For the first time in my life, I'm grateful that I'm-"

"Is there a blood on the sheets?" Victoria asked as she cleaned herself and took her pills.

Lionel lifted the doona and nodded, "And I never expected that it's so much."

Victoria massaged her head as she left the bathroom.

Lionel helped her to the chair as he went to the bed and took the sheets. Placed them on the hamper and looked at her.

She smiled at him as she shook her head, "I didn't tell you to do that."

"I have to… if I'm the reason why you're bleeding."


"Clarisse?" Joseph called as he and his wife lay on bed. Both trying to catch their breaths.

Clarisse hummed as she snuggled next to him.

"I haven't hurt you haven't I?"

Clarisse looked at him as she shook her head, "What makes you think that?"

"You yelped when I bit your neck. I'm sorry." he said as he looked at the spot where he did it, seeing a small bruise forming.

Clarisse touched the same spot as she smiled, "Don't apologize… I love how it feels."

She snuggle back to him as he placed his hands on her waist.

Both loving the warm comfort as Clarisse mumbled before drifting to sleep, "Good night, my darling."

"Good night, my love."


A/N: Tadaaaaa! Final chapter! I can't believe I wrote this thing weeks ago. Thank you for those who supported me and thank you for those who are loving this work. I'll write a sequel soon since I've already got some ideas. If you have some you can let me know if you want to share it and I'll give you credit for that idea… Also I left some small details here so that you'll get some hints *wink wink* I hope you enjoyed this small thing that I gave you and I hope I don't really suck that much. Thank you very much and whalaaaaaaa!

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